HAVERHILL, Mass. – Following the Atlantic Hockey
Directors’ annual spring meeting, which took place in Boston
on Monday and Tuesday, May 16 & 17, 2011, Commissioner Bob
DeGregorio announced that the Atlantic Hockey 2012 post-season
tournament will have a new format.

“The Directors have agreed to a twelve team format, with
all teams seeded based on the results of the regular season
standings,” stated Commissioner DeGregorio.

The top four teams will receive a bye in the First Round. The
First Round match-ups will be the 5th seed hosting the
12th seed, the 6th seed hosting the
11th seed, the 7th seed hosting the
10th seed, and the 8th seed hosting the
9th seed. This series will be a best
two-out-of-three and will take place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday,
March 2, 3, & 4, 2012 (Sunday if needed).

The Quarterfinal round will also be a best two-out-of-three
series, which will take place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 9,
10, 11, 2012 (Sunday if needed). The top four seeds will host
the four teams advancing from the First Round, with re-seeding
taking place.

The Quarterfinal winners will advance to the Blue Cross Arena in
Rochester, N.Y., where the semifinals and Championship games will
be held on Friday and Saturday, March 16 & 17, 2012. The
four teams advancing will be re-seeded.

The winner of the Atlantic Hockey Championship will earn the
leagues automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

“I think the new format is going to further enhance the
competitiveness of the league and it will certainly place more
importance on the regular season schedule and where teams finish in
the standings,” Commissioner DeGregorio stated.

The Atlantic Hockey Association arose on June 30, 2003, to found a
new Division-I men’s ice hockey conference. The league is
comprised of twelve members: Air Force Academy, American
International College, Army, Bentley University, Canisius College,
University of Connecticut, College of the Holy Cross, Mercyhurst
College, Niagara University, Robert Morris University, Rochester
Institute of Technology and Sacred Heart University.